Tractor plow and cultivator.



W. .5. RAY.

TRACTOR PLOW AND CULTIVATOH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. 1916.

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WL'ZZiwmJF/L ET W|TNESSES [WW ww ATTORNEY W. J. RAY.

TRACTOR PLOW AND CULTIVATOR.

APPucAnou FILED JUHE 10, 1915.

- Patented my 29, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z INVENTOR WITNESSES v ATTORNEY 55 downwardly projecting bearing WILLIAM J. BAY, OF FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS.

- macros rLow AND CULTIV'ATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Diary 29, 1917.

Application filed June 10, 1916. Serial in. 102,952.

To all whomit may concern.

Be it known that I, \VILLIA J. RAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort- Smith. in the county of Sebastian and State of Arkansas, have'invented certain. new and useful Improyements in Tractor Flows and Cultivators, of -which the following is a specification. This invention relates to tractor plows lo and cultivators, and more particularly to a machine of the character stated which is so constructed as to permit the plow' units to readily and easily adjust themselves to the surtaceof the ground, and which'is especially adapted to be used for either cultivating or plowing purposes.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a machine of the class specified provided with anumber of flexibly connected plow carrying members. A further object is to provide a machine the width. of which may be adjusted to suit special conditions. A still furtl'ier object is to provide means for making short turns, and to so constructthe steering mechanism that it may be used for steering purposes in the ordinary manner or. as a gage or furrow wheel during plowing operati'ons. Further objects will appear from the detailed de- 39 scription.

In the drawings H 3 Figure l is aplan view of the invention, Fig. 2 is a side View, I I Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4: is a detail of the mounting of one of the gripping -members carried by the main drive wheel,

5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4

. and I is Figs. 6 and? are details.

The main frameof -the, machine is pro vided with an integral rectangular frame 1 and a forwardly projecting platform 2. A. beam 3 is formed integral with the back of the frame 1, andextends laterally of the same, the lzuteral. extension of this beam beingprovided with an inwardly directed. U-

shaped groove A second beam 5 pro ects from the front end of the frame 1 and is provided with a groove 6. This second beam is bracedby hracingbars 7 integral therewith and with the platform 2.

The side bars o-fthe main frame ar each provided with a centrally located block 8.

A transverse shaft 9 is rotatably mounted in this block being secured in position by a platelO secured over the lower end of block 8. This shaft carries the main drive wheel 11 mounted. thereon; This wheel is provided on its outer periphery with suitableri in members 12. A co Wheel 13 is mounted on the shaft 9 concentric .with

wheel 11 and is rigidly secured to the said wheel. T 's cog wheel is connected by a (3112111114: to acog 15 loosely mounted on the transversely arranged drive shaft 16 of an interna combustion engine 17 mounted on the platform 2. The'outer end of this shaft is braced .andjsupportcd by a standard 18 secured on the cross brace bar 7. A clutch element 19 is feathered onshaft 16 and co operates with an element integral with the cog 15, so as to operatively connect the cog- This to the shait in the usual manner. clutch is operated bytheusual lever 20'. By

this arrangementpower may be transmitted directly from the engine to lthe driving 7 wheel.

On the side bar 1 of the main frame I mount a mechanism for providing additional gripping means for the main drive wheel when the tractor is used on soft damp ground, or for any other reason cannot ob tain su tlicient, grip to'properly operate. An approximately circular plate 21 is secured to the inner'face of the bar 1 about the shaft 9; This plate is provided with an upwardly projecting arm 22- having integrally spaced keepers23. A rod 24 is loosely mounted through these keepers and is provided at its upper end with ahand wheel-25. The lower portion of this rod is screw threaded as at 26, andis threaded'through the block 27 formed integral with an eccentric guide plate 28 which is centrally slotted as at 29 and slidably mounted on the block 30 in-' tegral with, and projecting inward from, the plate '21. The "lower end of rod "24: is secured inthe upper end of block 30 by means of a pin 31 secured in the block and projecting into an annular groove formed at the lower end of the rod, as in Fig. 5. By rotat-.

ing; the hand whecl25 the eccentric plateQS may be raised or lowered, as desired. This plate is provided with a groove 32-nearits lower edge and is cut away at'its upper edge.

This provides an inwardly projecting annular shoulder 33. Pinch of the spokes 34 of the whcel 11 is termed integral with the radially extended hub 35 of tliewheel, and radially disposed slots 36 areformed in this a roller 42 and the outer face of head 37.

hub between the spokes. In each of these slots is slidably mounted the head 37 of a spade-like gripping member 38. The outer end of this gripping member fits into the slot formed through the block 39 detachably secured in the rim of wheel 11. The head 37 is provided with a tram. ersc slot in which is mounted an anti-friction roller 48 carried by the pin 41 and engaging the sides of slot 36. The pin 41 projects beyond head 37 and a roller 42 is rotatably mounted on the outer portion of this pin. This roller is adapted to operate in the groove 32 of the cam plate 28. A sheetmetal plate 43 is mounted on the pin 41 intermediate the This plate prevents the head from moving inward and also serves as a wearing member between the inner faces of the head 37 and the eccentric )late 28. The groove 32 of the eccentric gui e plate 28 is so disposed that, when the plate is in lowered position, the rollers 42 will engage the lower face of the cam member 28 located at the center of plate 28 so as to force the gripping members 38 outwardly. As the drive wheel 11 1'0- tates the member 38 will be forced outwardly as it approaches its lowest point of travel, as shown in Fi 2 of the drawings. As the gripping mem er rotates backwardly and upwardly it will be withdrawn through the action of shoulder 33 of the eccentric plate 28 so that its outer edge lies within the periphery of wheel 11. By the time the roller 42 reaches the point beyond the upper end 33 of the shoulder 33, the member 38 will be in such position that it will be held inward by gravity. On its forward and downward movement the roller 42 will pass between the shoulder 33 and the cam member 28" so as to be operated as described. By" rotating the rod 24 so as to lift the eccentric plate 28, the plate will be raised so that the groove 32 will be. approxlmately concentric with shaft 9 .an 'd so spaced relatively thereto that the gripping member will not be extendedbyond theperiphery of the drive wheel during any partv of their rotation about the shaft. By this means I provide simple and efficient means whereby the drive wheel may be provided with; supplemental positively acting gripping devlces when desired. i

At the front of the main frame I secure an upwardly arched arm 44 provided at its outer end with an integral sleeve 45. A rod 46 is rotatably mounted through the sleeve 45 and is rigidly secured in a fork 47 in which is rotatably mounted the front ground wheel 48; A collar 46" is rigidly secured on the rod 46 and serves as a support for the sleeve 45 so as to properly support the front of the frame. A beveled gear 49 is rotatably mounted about the rod 46 on the spacing sleeve 50 spaced between the same and the top of the fork 47. This gear is provided with an integral spur gear 51 which meshes with a pinion 52 keyed on the upper end of a rod 53 rotatably mounted through lugs54 formed integral with fork 47. ()n the lower end of rod 53 is keyed a second pinion 55 which meshes with a ring face gear 56 secured to the wheel 48 concentric with the shaft 51 thereof. A longitudinally extending shaft 58 is rotatably moun'v ed in a standard 59 and the bracket 60 carried by the arm 44. A beveled gear (31 is keyed on the outer end of this shaft and meshes with a beveled gear 49. A second beveled gear 62 is feathered on the inner end i of shaft 58 and may be moved into or out of mesh with a beveled gear 63 keyed on the drive shaft 16 of the engine 17. by the usual hand lever, or any other suitable device. By thisarrangement it is clear that the front groundwheel 48 can be rotated from the engine 17 either simultaneously with, or independently of, the main drive wheel 11, as desired.

The arm 44 is secured to the front of the platform 2 by means of two bolts 64 passed therethrough and secured in .the platform. A threaded bore 65 is provided in the platform in transverse alinement with the inner bolt 64. By removing the shaft 58 and the outer bolt 64, the arm 44 may be turned so as to occupy a osition at the right hand side of the lat orm2 and secured in this position by mserting, the bolt into the bore 65, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1. By this means the wheel 48 may be used as a gage or furrow wheel, in a manner to be later disclosed, or it may be operated by the hand wheel 46 secured on the upper end of rod 46 so as to be used for steering. purposes in the ordinary manner.

At the right hand side of the main frame,

' at the back thereof the beam 3'is cut away to form a pro ecting flange 3. A similar flange 3 is formed at the front of the frame. These two flanges are oppositely disposed, relativel so as to leave two recesses opening to- 'war the front of the machine. A yoke 66 has its end members 67 provided with inwardly directed grooves similar to. the grooves 4 and 6 of members 3 and 5. The end members 67 are further provided, at

their inner ends, with inwardly projecting ears 68 adapted to fit snugly in the recesses adjacent the flanges 3 and3". These ears are provided with integral rcurwardlv'di rected pins (39 which fit through apertures provided through the flanges 3 and 3. The ears 68 and the recesses which receive the same have their inner ends of arcuatc shulw thus providing a pivotal connection between the yoke (56 and the main frame The volu- 18 secured against forward movement .i rlatively to the main frame by means of a gravity latch 70 pivoted 011 the side of the platform 2 and engaging with the front face of ear 68,. as inFigs: 1 and 2. Thislatch has its "downward movement limited by a stop pin 71. By lifting the latch into inop- 5 erative position, theyoke may be quickly and easily detached from the main frame without the necessityv of. removing bolts or other securing elements. A wheel frame 72 is mounted in the yoke 66 and carries a ground engaging wheel 73 rotatably supported thereby. This frame72 is provided with mtegral end blocks 7 3 the outer ends of which are reduced to form tongues 74: which fit snugly in the grooves of the arms 67 of the yoke; Each of these tongues is apertured to receive asecuring bolt 75. This bolt may be inserted through any one of a series of alincd apertures 7 6 in the arms 67 thus providing means for adjusting the frame longitudinally of the arms. The frame 7 2 is fur ther provided with integral outwardly projecting lugs 77 to which are pivotally con nected the inner ends of arms 78 carrying the'frame 79 in whichis rotatably mounted a ground engaging wheel 80. A frame, 72 carrying a wheel 73 is adjustably mounted in the grooves of the beams 3 and 5 similarly to frame72. A wheel 80 is mounted in the f 'ame 7 9 which ispivotally connected to the frame 72%, by means of arms 78 in the same manner as the frame 7 9 is connected to the frame 72. The outer front corner of the frame 7 9 is connected to the platform 2 by means of a stay rod 81, in the usual manner for bracing purposes. The outer end of the front arm 67 of the yoke 66 is similarly connected to the platform by a stay-rod S2.

- Each of the outer wheel. frames 79 and 7 9 is provided with two inwardly projecting in tegral lugs 83. These lugs support the stirrup 84 adapted to receive the inner end of the plow beam 85 mounted therein and 'secured thereto in any suitable manner. The intermediate wheel frames 72 and 72 are each provided at each side with lugs .and a stirrup similarto those carried by the frames 79 and 79, and the side members 1 and 1 of the main drive wheel frame are similarly .provided with lugs and stirrups. By this 59 arrangement a frame of the type shown in Fig. l is capable of pulling eight plowing units.

By having the various plowing units flexibly connected so as tobe movable in vertical planes, the plows carried by these units can quickly and easily adjust themselves to the surface of the ground being plowed. The construction shown is more especially adapted for pulling cultivator plows, the several 59 wheels being so positioned as to travel be' tween the rows of plants being cultivated and to draw the cultivating plowsbetween the plant rows in the usual manner.

In using my machine for plowing, I re- 5 move the yoke 66 and secure the front ground wheel 48 to one side of the platform 2-, as previously described and 1nd 1-' cated by broken lines in Fig. 1. In this case, the plows are carried at the left hand side of the main drive wheel 11, and the 7g wheel 48 which'is free to caster in the sleeve 45 acts to guide themachine' in the ordinary manner of a furrow wheel.

By having plowlcarr'ying elements at the right side of the machine flexibly connected .75 to the main frame, the plows arefree to move vertically so as to readily adjust themselves to the surface being plowed. This adjust -ment may be effected by a slight rocking movement of the main frame on'the guide 80 wheel 11 or by an independent rocking of the I outer pivotally mounted frames 79 and 79% Also as previously stated, the front ground wheel =18 may be connected to the engine so as to secure additionaltraction surfacewhen 86 new ground is being broken, or ground througlrwhich it exceptionally hard to pull the plows. By disconnecting the main drive wheel 11, and turning the front ground wheel 48 at right angles and rotat- 9G ing the same from the engii'ie, I am enabled to make veryfshort turns. In this case the main drive wheel'll acts as a pivot point about which-the machine is revolved. This feature is of special importance where there is but littleroom in which to make the turn and, also, effects a material saving of time in turning.

In order to adjust the depth of plowing I provide a series of hand levers and racks on 1% the back members of themachine. These levers are connected to the plow beam by chains and operate in the usual manner to raise or lower the plows. This construction is standard and now wellknown in this art, and need &5 not therefore be illustrated.

It will be obvious that certain variations can be made in the construction and arrangement of the details of my invention without departing from the field and scope 1 of the same, and I intend to include all such ariations as fall within the appended claims in this application, in which a preerred form only of the invention is disclosed.

. YVhat I claim, is

1. Int actor plows, a main frame, a drive wheel carried thereby, a ground wheel mounted at the front of the main frame and adj ustablcj laterally of the same so as to 129 form a gage; wheel, a motor mounted on the main frame, and means for rotating said drive and ground wheels either simultane ously or independently, optionally, from c said motor when the ground wheel is di- 125 rected forwardly of the main frame.

2. In tractor plows, a main frame having a forwardly extending platform, an arm a mounted on said platform, said arm being adjustable so as to extend forward of the Q main frame in longitudinal alinement therewith or laterally of said main frame at substantially a right angle thereto, Optionally, a motor mounted on the said platform, driving connections between said motor and drive wheel, and mean s for rotating said ground wheel from the motor independently of the drive wheel or simultaneously there with, optionally, when said arm is directed forward of the main frame.

3. In tractor plows, a main frame, a drive wheel carried thereby, said drive wheel having an expanded hub provided with a plurality of outwardly directed radially disposed guide slots, a plate fixedly secured adjacent the drive wheel provided with an inwardly extending block, a guide plate slidably mounted on the inner face of said fixed plate, said guide plate being provided with a lower cam slot and being cut away at its upper portion to provide a central cam block, a plurality of radially disposed gripping members slidably mounted in the guide slots of said wheel hub and operable through the rim portion of the drive wheel, the rim of said wheel being provided with slots to accommodate said gripping members, each of said gripping members being provided adjacent its upper end with an inwardly directed actuating member operable in the cam slot of said guide plate, means for raising or lowering the guide plate, a motor mounted on said platform, and driving connections between said motor and drive wheel.

4. In tractor plows, a main frame, a drive wheel carried thereby, a motor mounted on the main frame, driving connections between said motor and drive wheel, a forwardly extending arm secured to the main frame, a shaft rotatably mounted through the outer end of said arm, a fork fixedly secured to the lower end of said shaft, a ground wheel mounted in the fork in substantial alinement with said drive wheel, and means for rotating said ground wheel from the motor independently of said shaft and either simultaneously with, or independently of, said drive wheel, optionally.

In testimon whereof I aflix my signature in presence 0 a witness. I

, WILLIAM J. RAY.

Witness:

M. E. JoNEs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

